Author's Note: Just in case you didn't catch it, I uploaded chapter 11, "Blossoming Relationship?" just this past Saturday. Please make sure you read that before this chapter. Thank you.

Bella shivered beneath her dark red cloak, pulling it tighter around her. It would seem that she had never considered the need of rain cloaks. Her cloak seemed to be keeping the vast majority of the rain out, but it was still soaking through and making her travel coat damp. The damp in turn managed to seep into her travel clothes in the form of a bone-deep chill.

The rain had been pouring over them for nearly a week now, starting the afternoon after Bilbo confronted Fili. There was no relief or distraction. The downpour would destroy any paper even before charcoal pencil could touch the surface. After the first day, even Fili's and Kili's spirits were so down that there was no desire for fun and merriment.

"Amralime," Fili said quietly, touching her hand. "How are you doing?"

She huffed. "Cold, wet, and cranky," she answered. She quietly moaned. "I just want to go somewhere warm and dry until I'm no longer dripping and the chill is gone from my bones."

Fili hummed. "You may be the only one willing to actually voice it, but I think that most everyone feels that way."

She growled. "I also feel awful because in all our planning, Bilbo and I never considered that we'd end up traveling in bad weather."

"You expected to travel in fair weather?"

"No. I don't know. Ugh!"

A quiet moment passed as Bella just felt sorry for herself. She started as darkness enveloped her. She raised her hand to discover a surprisingly dry fabric. She peeked out from underneath the generous folds at Fili.

He gently smiled at her. "I always carry a spare rain cloak," he said. "We can't let our resident ranger catch cold."

Bella offered a weak smile. "Dare I ask if you can make sure our resident burglar receives the same care?"

"Consider it done," Fili answered. He turned forward. "Kili." He then used Iglishmek. His smile grew as he nodded.

Bella peered ahead to see Kili toss a dark cloak over top her brother. She smiled, turning her gaze back to Fili. "Thank you."

"Glassen, amralime," he said.

Bella smirked. "You're not allowed to mix languages."

"Yes, I can, since you haven't taught me any endearments in Sindarin," he replied.

"Fine," she replied. "Lessons, now." For the first time, between the two of them, they managed to find some minor distraction in language studies. When they settled down for another damp night, Bella wondered why they hadn't done it earlier that week.

Finally. After nearly a week and a half the rain finally stopped. So, even though the sun stayed behind the clouds, making it difficult to dry out, at least there wasn't anymore new wet to plague them. Bella still shivered under her damp clothes and she still felt the cold deep in her bones, but she felt extremely better without rainwater running down her in constant streams.

"We'll stop up ahead," Thorin shouted back, pointing to a ruined farmhouse.

Bella felt saddened as she gazed upon the house. No house should crumble beyond repair like that. The roof sagged while in places it was gone. It looked as though one of the walls was completely gone. It appeared that Gandalf shared her grief.

"Fili, Kili," Thorin said. "Watch the ponies. Make sure you stay with them. Oin, Gloin."

"Aye?" Gloin acknowledged.

"Get a fire going," Thorin ordered.

"Right you are," Gloin said, turning to getting firewood.

Bella sighed in pleased anticipation. Burning hot and long enough would heat away the chill from her bones.

"I think it would be wiser to move on," Gandalf said. "We could make for the Hidden Valley."

"I have told you already," Thorin said. "I am still unsure that we will stop there."

"Why not?" the wizard asked. "The elves will help us. We could get food, rest, advice."

"I do not need their advice," Thorin growled.

"If I may speak, Thorin King," Bella said, stepping forward.

Thorin huffed, rubbing his temples. "Speak, Mistress Baggins."

"We carry a map which could hold secrets fashioned during a time when dwarves and elves lived in peace," Bella said. "It may be possible that an elf in Rivendell, maybe even Lord Elrond himself, could help us discover those secrets. And may I remind you, your feud is not against the elves of Rivendell but those of the Woodland Realm."

Thorin sighed. "We'll camp here tonight. I'll make my final decision in the morning." He glared at Gandalf. "But not before."

The wizard scowled before storming off.

"Everything alright?" Bilbo asked as the wizard passed him. "Gandalf, where are you going?"

"To seek the company of the only one around here, aside from your sister, who's got any sense," Gandalf answered frustrated.

"Who's that then?" Bilbo asked.

"Myself, Mr. Baggins," Gandalf snapped. "I've had enough of dwarves for one day." With that he disappeared into the trees under the cold blue of moonlight.

Bella stepped over to join Bilbo in watching the vacant trees.

"Think he'll be coming back?" he asked.

"I'd suspect so," she answered. "Probably not much different than when the two of us have a spat and need a moment alone to gather our thoughts."

Bilbo took in a deep breath before releasing it, "Good point," he said. He glanced over to her. "Though I may worry about him until he appears again."

Bella nodded in understanding. Gandalf was the only member of the Company they could confidently say that they actually knew. It would be good when he was back.

Night had fully settled upon them and there was still no sign of Gandalf's return. Bella numbly stirred her stew, casting her gaze back to Bilbo more than she cared to admit.

"He's been gone a long time," Bilbo said, leaving his silent post by a lonely doorframe.

"Who?" Bofur asked.

"Gandalf," Bella answered.

"He's a wizard," Bofur said, waving it off. "He does as he pleases. 'Ere, Bilbo, do us a favor and take these down to the lads." He handed Bilbo two bowls of stew.

"Want me to come with you?" Bella asked.

"No, you eat," Bilbo answered. "I may just take the opportunity to have a few words with your hopeful suitor."

"No more threats," Bella said.

"So long as they're not warranted," Bilbo tossed over his shoulder.

Bella shook her head as she turned back to her stew.

"What is this talk of threats?" Thorin asked, sitting beside her.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Just my brother using his protective authority," she said. "He spoke to Fili the morning after Balin told the tale about Moria. I don't know what was said, but I was a bit surprised that he didn't end up scaring Fili away at least the morning."

Thorin raised an eyebrow. "Your brother doesn't necessarily strike me as threatening."

"You have yet to see him truly angry or protective," she said. "He actually dared to punch a couple unsavory lads when we were in our tweens." She smirked. "I almost wouldn't be surprised if rumors of a ranger hobbit actually started because of him."

The dwarven king gave her a half-smile. "I'll just have to take your word for it until I see it."

They talked for awhile more, much like their note passing. Bella almost worried about her brother after ten minutes, but then reminded herself that Bilbo was hoping to talk with Fili.

About twenty minutes after Bilbo left, Fili and Kili came crashing into camp. Thorin was on his feet in an instant. "You're supposed to be watching the ponies."

"We were," Fili said. "We just may have accidently misplaced four of them thanks to some trolls."

"But we sent our burglar in to get them back while we came to get everyone else for backup," Kili added.

"You sent Bilbo in among trolls!?" Bella shouted. "What were you two thinking?"

"That he's small and won't be noticed," Kili answered, even as Fili started to shift nervously under her fury.

"You didn't think that you were sending the last of my family among a pack of trolls who'd think nothing of turning my brother into a two-bite snack?!" she half-screamed.

"There are actually three trolls, not a pack," Fili offered weakly.

Bella glared at him. "I am shocked at you," she seethed.

"The damage has been done," Thorin said. "All we can do now is do our best to make sure it doesn't worsen. Men, du bekar!"

"To arms." Bella was thankful to understand that. She scooped up the few things she had laid down.

"Not you, Mistress Baggins," Thorin said.

"What? Why?" she demanded.

"You are too distraught, and until I am certain of your skill in battle, I will not risk your life," the king answered. "You will stay and watch the remainder of the ponies."

Bella scowled as she plopped back onto her seat. Oh, yes. Keep back the one hobbit who actually has fighting experience.

Fili knelt beside her, but she only spared him a long enough glance to tell who it was. "Bella, I'm sorry," he said. "I'll confess that I didn't really think it all through." He fumbled a moment before saying. "We'll get your brother back. I promise. Everything will be fine."

"I can fight just as well as the rest of you," she snapped.

"And protective habits toward lady-folk are hard to break," Fili said. "If you really want to prove yourself to Uncle tonight, I'm sure you'll find a way without going against his wishes."

Bella crossed her arms over her knees and planted her chin there. She felt his hand hover over her shoulder before he withdrew it.

"I swear I will make this right," he said.

Then the whole lot of them were gone.

Bella slowly stood and went over to where they had released the ponies. She gently caressed the nose of one as she moped. Then a thought came to her head. A devilish smirk sprouted across her features. She and Bilbo had refused to be completely helpless on journeys such as this. They had backup plans for if one fell into trouble.

"Come, my lovelies," she said to the ponies. "We have an errand to run."

Author's Note: Oh, Bella, what do you have planned? Do you guys have any theories as to what she'll do? Will Thorin's Company beat the trolls? Or will they join the menu?

Oh, and we may be witnessing the first spat between the two lovebirds. I think Bella is justified for being mad at Fili and Kili for tossing Bilbo among the trolls. But you may have another opinion.

For those interested, "glassen" is Sindarin for "you're welcome."

So. I welcome any thoughts or theories you may have. What might Bella do? Think Gandalf might return in time to help? Will the Company need help? We should be finding out next week.